Canadian navy makes history with first same-sex kiss at homecoming

A Canadian naval vessel made history on Wednesday when a male sailor returning from sea shared a historic first kiss with his male partner.

A Canadian sailor returning from sea has made history as he shared the first ever same-sex kiss at a Naval homecoming ceremony.

The ceremonial first kiss shared between a sailor and their partner is decided by a raffle and it was the first time in the Royal Canadian Navy’s history that the kiss had been between two men.

The returning sailor, Master Seaman Francis League told Global News: “I just bought a ticket because all the money goes to charity; I wasn’t thinking I was going to win.”

Mr League was away for 255 days aboard the HMCS Winnipeg after a tour in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.

Rear Admiral Gilles Couturier, commander of the Pacific Navy, told CBC News: “We are reflective of society and we do recruit across all across society.”

“If we don't adapt, we won't have any sailors joining.”